Structure with rolling roof top cover

ABSTRACT

A structure with a rolling roof cover, for example, a gazebo with a retractable cover, where the retractable cover is connected by a pull cord to a winding device, wherein operation of the winding device allows the user to open or retract the cover. The cover can be opened and closed very easily and provides flexibility to the user.

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No.200520071712.9, filed May 16, 2005, which is hereby incorporated byreference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to covered structures and in particularto structures with a rolling roof top or cover.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

On various kinds of covered leisure structures currently used foroutdoor activities, the cover or roof on top is difficult to dismantleonce the structure has been assembled. At times, people do not wish tobe shaded from sunlight, or people want to be shaded from sunlight onlywhen the sun is too hot. In other words, current covered leisurestructures are still disadvantaged by flexibility limitations.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A structure having a retractable cover, comprising a first corner polehaving a first top end and a first bottom end; a second corner polehaving a second top end and a second bottom end; a crossbeam having afirst end and a second end; a first beam having a first front end and afirst rear end; a second beam having a second front end and a secondrear end; a reel; a cover having a leading edge; a pull cord; a windingdevice; a first pulley; and a second pulley,

-   -   wherein said first top end, said first end, and said first front        end are contiguous to one another and joined to form a first        front junction; said second top end, said second end, and said        second front end are contiguous to one another and joined to        form a second front junction; said first corner pole and said        second corner pole are located in a first plane; said first beam        and said second beam are parallel to each other and located in a        second plane different from said first plane; said first corner        pole and said first beam are located in a third plane different        from said first plane and said second plane; said second corner        pole and said second beam are located in a fourth plane        different from said first plane, said second plane, and said        third plane; said cover is wound about said reel, and said reel        and said crossbeam are parallel to each other; said first pulley        and said second pulley are joined to said structure; said pull        cord connects said leading edge of said cover with said winding        device through said first pulley and said second pulley, and    -   wherein operation of said winding device in one direction        results in expansion of said cover in a direction towards said        crossbeam, and wherein operation of said winding device in an        opposite direction results in retraction of said cover in a        direction towards said reel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of a rolling-roof gazebo when theroof is retracted.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an embodiment of a rolling-roof gazebo when theroof is open and expanded.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an embodiment of a rolling-roof gazebo and anembodiment of a cover expand-retract system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a covered structure (such as a gazeboor awning, for example) whose cover or roof can be expanded andretracted (sometimes referred to herein as a “rolling-roof”).

Preferred structures are gazebos having a plurality of corner poles anda plurality of crossbeams. Preferred embodiments of gazebos are shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. Referring to FIG. 1, a gazebo comprises corner poles 1(four corner poles shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), crossbeam 2, and beams 3. Arear crossbeam 2-2 (not shown in FIG. 1 but shown in FIG. 3) may also beemployed. Additional reinforcement crossbeams 5 may also be employed andmay function as a support for cover 4. There is a winding device 6 (forexample, a crank) joined to one corner pole.

Referring to FIG. 3, cover 4 is wound around reel (or scroll) 12, whereone edge of cover 4 joins with reel 12 and a leading edge (not shown) ofawing cover 4 is exposed on the outside. Reel 12 may be joined tocrossbeam 2-2 if crossbeam 2-2 is also employed. The reel 12 may bespring-loaded (for example, with torsion springs), to provide functionas an automatic retracting system. Winding device 6 is joined to onecorner pole (not shown in FIG. 3). A shaft 4.1 may be joined to theleading edge of cover 4, as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 also shows pulleys(or spools or crown blocks), for example, pulleys 8 and 9, as well aspull cord 7 (for example, a rope or cable).

Pull cord 7 on one end is connected to winding device 1 and runs throughpulleys 8 and 9 along (or disposed within) the corner pole to whichwinding device 1 is attached, crossbeam 2, and then finally endsconnected at the other end to the leading edge of cover 4 or to theshaft 4.1 (shown in FIG. 3).

When shaft 4.1 is utilized, shaft 4.1 may contain at its ends rollers 10(or wheels), and beams 3 may comprise slide rails 3.1 in which rollers10 may be slideably mounted.

Operation of said winding device 1 in one direction (to retract lengthof the pull cord 7) results in expansion (or rolling open) of said cover4 in a direction towards crossbeam 2 (direction arrow B of FIG. 2), andoperation of said winding device in an opposite direction (to releaselength of the pull cord 7) results in retraction (or rolling closed) ofsaid cover 4 in a direction towards said reel 12 (direction arrow A ofFIG. 1).

FIG. 1 illustrates a four corner pole structure in which the cover 4 hasbeen fully retracted (or rolled closed). FIG. 2 illustrates a fourcorner pole structure in which the cover 4 has been fully expanded (orrolled open).

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate “stand-alone” structures, but the presentinvention also includes structures in which only two front corner polesare employed, such as covered structures extending from a building orother structure on which reel 12 (and optionally crossbeam 2-2) may alsobe joined.

1. A structure having a retractable cover, comprising: a first cornerpole having a first top end and a first bottom end; a second corner polehaving a second top end and a second bottom end; a crossbeam having afirst end and a second end; a first beam having a first front end and afirst rear end; a second beam having a second front end and a secondrear end; a reel; a cover having a leading edge; a pull cord; a windingdevice; a first pulley; and a second pulley, wherein said first top end,said first end, and said first front end are contiguous to one anotherand joined to form a first front junction, said second top end, saidsecond end, and said second front end are contiguous to one another andjoined to form a second front junction, said first corner pole and saidsecond corner pole are located in a first plane, said first beam andsaid second beam are parallel to each other and located in a secondplane different from said first plane, said first corner pole and saidfirst beam are located in a third plane different from said first planeand said second plane, said second corner pole and said second beam arelocated in a fourth plane different from said first plane, said secondplane, and said third plane, said cover is wound about said reel, andsaid reel and said crossbeam are parallel to each other, said firstpulley and said second pulley are joined to said structure, said pullcord connects said leading edge of said cover with said winding devicethrough said first pulley and said second pulley, and wherein operationof said winding device in one direction results in expansion of saidcover in a direction towards said crossbeam, and wherein operation ofsaid winding device in an opposite direction results in retraction ofsaid cover in a direction towards said reel.
 2. The structure of claim1, wherein said reel is spring-loaded.
 3. The structure of claim 1,wherein said first plane, said second plane, and said third plane arenormal to one another, and said first plane, said second plane, and saidfourth plane are normal to one another.
 4. The structure of claim 1,further comprising a second crossbeam having a first end and a secondend, wherein said second crossbeam and said crossbeam are parallel toeach other, said first end of said second crossbeam and said first rearend of said first beam are contiguous to each other and joined to form afirst rear junction, and said second end of said second crossbeam andsaid second rear end of said second beam are contiguous to each otherand joined to form a second rear junction.
 5. The structure of claim 4,wherein said second crossbeam is contiguous to said reel.
 6. Thestructure of claim 4, wherein said second crossbeam is joined to saidreel.
 7. The structure of claim 1, further comprising a shaft having afirst end and a second end, wherein said shaft is joined to said leadingedge of said cover, said shaft and said crossbeam are parallel to eachother, and said pull cord is joined to said shaft.
 8. The structure ofclaim 7, wherein said first end of said shaft comprises a first roller,said second end of said shaft comprises a second roller, said first beamcomprises a first slide rail, said second beam comprises a second sliderail, said first slide rail and said second slide rail are parallel toeach other, said first roller is slideably mounted in said first sliderail, and said second roller is slideably mounted in said second sliderail.
 9. The structure of claim 1, wherein said first pulley is joinedto said first corner pole or said crossbeam and is contiguous to saidfirst front junction.
 10. The structure of claim 1, wherein said secondpulley is joined to said crossbeam.
 11. The structure of claim 1,wherein said first corner pole and said second corner pole are parallelto each other.
 12. The structure of claim 4, further comprising a thirdcorner pole having a third top end and a third bottom end and a fourthcorner pole having a fourth top end and a fourth bottom end, whereinsaid third corner pole and said fourth corner pole are located in afifth plane, said third top end is contiguous to and joined with saidfirst rear junction, and said fourth top end is contiguous to and joinedwith said second rear junction.
 13. The structure of claim 12, whereinsaid fifth plane, said second plane, and said third plane are normal toone another, and said fifth plane, said second plane, and said fourthplane are normal to one another.
 14. The structure of claim 12, whereinsaid third corner pole and said fourth corner pole are parallel to eachother.